I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Chair in 2005-06. This year as part of the online election members were asked to give feedback on the SR. Several comments received through this process related to strategic planning to develop a list of objectives and other issues to incorporate into our mission. Several members thought it was time for the SR to get involved in some other areas and suggested we brainstorm ideas, issues and projects at the Annual Meeting. Some comments mentioned exploring additional community projects especially since we will be in New Orleans next year. I plan to ask for input on issues at the Business Meeting in St. Louis, so please give it some thought and we can discuss ideas for future directions for the SR.

As you may know, the SIS sponsored a resolution at the Annual Meeting in San Antonio dealing with the war in Iraq (more details can be found at http://www.aallnet.org/sis/srsis/newsletter/volume15/no15_1.html#7). The proposed resolution was defeated in a standing vote of the membership. However, several members expressed interest in re-working the resolution for possible reconsideration in 2006. If you are interested in participating, please contact me ASAP.

In 2005, the Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues celebrated its 20th anniversary. As part of the celebratory events for the Standing Committee, Carol Alpert was recognized for her many tireless efforts to promote equality for the Lesbian and Gay community and social justice for all within the American Association of Law Libraries. As a follow-up, Larry Reeves has agreed to chair a special committee to create an ongoing SR-SIS Social Justice Award, recognizing the efforts of others in promoting social justice. The work will be underway at the annual meeting.

We were able to quickly resolve an issue involving AALL's policy of non-discrimination as it applies to AALL contract provisions negotiated with conference hotels. Several SR members noted that language AALL uses as a model did not include a reference to sexual orientation discrimination. We raised the issue with Pam Reisinger and she acted immediately to see that the language would be revised for future use. This was a terrific response and a good outcome! More below.

Missouri is the “Show-Me State” and this year's theme for the annual SR book drive is “Show me the Books!” Ann Puckett is heading the wonderful team in charge of organizing this year's book drive; other dedicated “book drivers” include: Kathleen Casey, James Donovan, Jim and Joan Voelker, and Kris Albertus. Please support the 2006 St. Louis Show Me the Books! Book Drive. More information below.

As I mentioned in my post on March 22, 2006, to offer our support for the book drives undertaken in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the SR-SIS Executive Board agreed to give a $250 donation to two library organizations in New Orleans. We encourage you to support any and all of these efforts. Amy Hale-Janeke, Librarian with the 5th Circuit Library in New Orleans, has more information on the efforts on behalf of the New Orleans Charter School of Math and Science (NOSCAM) and Stacy Etheredge, Reference Librarian at the University of South Carolina School of Law, has more on efforts by the New Orleans Public Library (NOPL). Feel free to contact them if you want more information.

We are pleased that two wonderful SR sponsored programs were accepted for the 2006 Annual Meeting. DADT, Solomon, FAIR v. Rumsfeld, and the Librarian's Role in Amelioration (to be coordinated by Elvira Embser-Herbert) and One Hundred Years: A Look at the Federal Indian Trust Relation Through the Cobell Case (sponsored by the Native People's Caucus together with the SR as co-sponsor and coordinated by Faye Hadley.) More on that below.

I hope you all saw Elvira Embser-Herbert's article for the February issue of the Spectrum titled Why the heck is there a Standing Committee for Lesbian and Gay Issues, Anyway? which focused on diversity issues. Congratulations are also in order; Elvira has been accepted at and is going to attend law school. Elvira is slated to be our incoming chair for 2006-7, but given the load of a first year law student (combined with work and family) quite understandably she has decided not to act as chair. Elvira will continue her role as chair through August to complete the education program proposal process for the 2007 meeting. THANKS ELVIRA!

Also Congratulations and thanks to Larry Reeves, our new Secretary/Treasurer and to Ron Wheeler, 2007-8 Chair-Elect. Also a huge thanks goes to Ron, who is willing to step into Elvira's role as SR Chair a year early (2006-7). Ron is also willing to complete his own term (2007-8) as well! THANKS RON!

Ann Hemmens (Chair in 2004-5) has agreed to act as interim “Vice Chair” for 2006-7, to assist Ron. THANKS ANN!

We will have an action item on the Business Meeting agenda to vote on all of this – thanks very much to the wonderful team on the executive board - we have all committed to work together as a team and support Ron a year early!!

Leslie Campbell, Chair
Social Responsibilities SIS
Leslie_Campbell@ao.uscourts.gov
202.502.1587

Great News - at the suggestion of the SR leadership, AALL has agreed to include specific mention of “sexual orientation" as a form of prohibited discrimination in the model language AALL uses for hotel contracts. Ann Hemmens (SR-SIS Chair 2004-5) and Elvira Embser-Herbert (Chair Elect, 2006-7) noted that the proposed model language AALL uses for hotel contracts did not include a specific mention of “sexual orientation". As we all know, it was through the hard-fought efforts of the SR that a specific mention of “sexual orientation” as a form of prohibited discrimination was included in AALL's Bylaws, Section III. Pam Reisinger, AALL Director of Meetings, reacted immediately to this request and after making the appropriate inquiries, revised the model language! A special thanks to Pam for her prompt and open response to this request.

Pam asked us to make special mention that AALL has to negotiate contracts several years in advance and so currently has hotel headquarters properties signed out until 2015. The new language will begin with the 2016 contracts. Pam indicated that she was going to review current contracts that include the non-discrimination language and request that they include the “sexual orientation” language. AALL will incorporate this language into all future contracts. The model hotel contract language is set out below:

Non-Discrimination Provision for Hotel Contracts
Model Draft Language

The organization is committed to integrating diversity concerns and perspectives into all aspects of its activities, including its meetings and conventions. To that end, Hotel represents and warrants (i) that Hotel does not and shall not discriminate against any individual or group of individuals on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, national ancestry, disability, or any other legally protected status, and (ii) that Hotel complies and shall comply with all federal, state and local laws prohibiting discrimination of any kind. The organization may terminate this Agreement and/or cancel the Event without payment of any cancellation or other damages immediately upon written notice to Hotel of Hotel's breach or alleged breach of either of the foregoing representations.

Alternative wording to last sentence: The organization may terminate this Agreement and/or cancel the Event without payment of any cancellation or other damages immediately upon written notice to Hotel of the filing of an administrative or judicial proceeding against Hotel with respect to the foregoing representations.

Be sure to attend the two SR-SIS Sponsored Educational Programs:

“DADT, Solomon, FAIR v. Rumsfeld, and the Librarian's Role in Amelioration” - Program I-1, Wednesday, July 12, 9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m. -- This panel discussion will include the following speakers: a socio-legal scholar who will discuss “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” and the Solomon legislation, (which threatens to withdraw federal funds from schools that do not allow military recruiters the same access to OCI that they grant non-discriminatory employers), the Executive Director of AALS who will discuss amelioration, and a constitutional law scholar who will discuss the litigation in reaction to Solomon culminating in FAIR v. Rumsfeld and the high court's decision in that case.

“One Hundred Years: A Look at the Federal Indian Trust Relation Through the Cobell Case” (co-sponsored by the Native People's Caucus and SR-SIS) - Program G-5, Tuesday, July 11, 10:15 a.m.–11:30 a.m. -- This program will present an overview of the history of the trust relationship between Native peoples of America and the U.S. Government and feature several speakers who are involved in the Cobell case and several experts in the issues surrounding the trust relationships.

• SR-SIS Business meeting - Sunday, July 9, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
• Standing Committee on Law Library Service to Institution Residents Business Meeting - Monday, July 10, 7:45 a.m.-8:45 a.m.
• LISP/RIPS/SR-SIS Joint Roundtable on Library Services to Pro Se Patrons and Prisoners - Monday, July 10, 2006, 10:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
• Standing Committee on Lesbian & Gay Issues Business Meeting - Tuesday, July 11, 5:15 p.m.-6:15 p.m.
• Standing Committee on Lesbian & Gay Issues Reception at Union Station Grand Hall - Tuesday, July 11, 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

As we all know Missouri is the “Show-Me State” and this year's theme for the annual book drive is “Show me the Books!” We expect to have a great success with our 2006 “Show Me the Books” drive to support local St. Louis schools. Ann Puckett is heading the wonderful team in charge of organizing this year's book drive; other dedicated “book drivers” include: Kathleen Casey, James Donovan, Jim and Joan Voelker, and Kris Albertus.

The Social Responsibilities Special Interest Section (SR-SIS) is coordinating the 8th annual children's book drive in St. Louis. The 2006 theme is Show Me the Books! This year's efforts will benefit two of the most needy schools in the St. Louis area, Central Elementary and Vashon 9th Grade Academy.

Central Elementary is one of two elementary schools within the Wellston School District. The District was established in 1894 and currently educates 600 students in four facilities, including an early childhood center as well as the Central Elementary School. Wellston, like many inner suburbs, has plunged into economic depression and social chaos after the losses of population and declining home values of the post-World War II era. Test scores had declined to such an extent that by the 1990s the State of Missouri was forced to place the district into a form of receivership.

The City of Wellson has made efforts to stabilize its political, commercial and physical infrastructure and attract new residents. They have also consolidated and reorganized the school system with Central Elementary now serving grade levels 1 through 4 and a predominantly African American student body. Central has slightly less than 200 students and has begun rebuilding the library collection.

Vashon 9th Grade Academy is one of a number of schools in the St. Louis City school district that has suffered a plague of financial, political, and severe discipline issues. In January 2006, as part of an immediate effort to create smaller, more manageable student communities, the new superintendent of the city school system took the bold step of removing the current 9th grade class to an off-site facility. The freshman class was relocated to a vacant middle school facility in the downtown area, now known as the Vashon Williams Ninth Grade Academy. The Academy's library is in the process of building a collection to support the new program. It is in need of all appropriate materials for 14-16 year old students. The small amount of funding provided by the school district has allowed the library to purchase only a few reference titles and some fiction items. Currently they have 594 titles (and 653 copies) in the collection. According to the state, the library should have the following in order to meet minimum standards: 350 reference titles, 3080 nonfiction titles, and 1530 fiction titles.

Think about how you would like to donate this year. It is easier than ever! You can go to Amazon.com to choose from the Book Drive Wish List (click here, http://tinyurl.com/og5re, or go to www.amazon.com and click on the “Wish List” link and then search for “AALL”), and your donation will be shipped directly to the Book Drive Team. Each school has its own Wish List with pre-selected age-appropriate items. Other options include bringing your donation with you to the conference and donating at the SR-SIS table, or sending your donation check made out to AALL to:

SHOW ME THE BOOKS c/o Ann Puckett
University of Georgia Alexander Campbell King Law Library
Herty Drive
Athens, GA 30602-6018
apuckett@uga.edu

The SR-SIS ballots for the 2006 election have been counted and the Nominating Committee is pleased to announce that Ron Wheeler has been elected as Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect and Larry Reeves has been elected as Secretary/Treasurer.

Please join the Nominating Committee in congratulating Ron and Larry and thanking them for agreeing to provide leadership for SR-SIS over the next few years.

In 2005 the SR-SIS amended the Bylaws allowing for online elections and the presentation of "at least one candidate" for office (allowing for uncontested elections). The 2006 election was our first election in this new format. We received 60 ballots. We received comments from five individuals in response to the "feedback" question on future directions for the SR-SIS.

SR-SIS 2006 Electronic Elections Feedback –

Thank you all for taking the time to vote. This year, the online voting format also provided the opportunity to ask for feedback from SR-SIS members. The Board agreed to posting the following question to get feedback from members:

Are there issues you would like SR-SIS to address or projects you would like the SR-SIS to undertake (e.g., community support projects, educational programs, new publications)? If so, please describe…

We received several responses. For instance one suggestion was that the Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay issues connect with the local statewide LGBT organizations in the states in which the AALL Annual Meeting is held to increased exposure and make members more aware of the LGBT political issues. Another suggested seeking an opportunity for greater community involvement at next year's meeting in New Orleans. Several comments related to strategic planning to develop a list of objectives and other issues to incorporate into our mission. The suggestion was made to do some strategic planning and to brainstorm additional issues for involvement and new community projects to undertake.

Please join us at the SR-SIS Business Meeting in St. Louis where Ron and Larry will officially take office (Sunday, July 9, 2006 6:30 p.m.- 7:30 p.m.). Thank you all for taking the time to vote.

SR-SIS Nominating Committee
Ann Hemmens, Chair
James Duggan
Rebecca Trammell

Holoch Grant -

The Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues and the Holoch Grant Committee are proud to announce the 2006 recipient of the Holoch Memorial Grant, Druet Cameron Klugh. Druet is Senior Reference Librarian and Bibliographer at the University of Iowa College of Law, and was previously a reference librarian at the University of Colorado. While at Colorado, Druet served as President of the Colorado Association of Law Libraries, and has been active in other AALL activities as well. Congratulations to Druet, and please welcome her if you see her at the Annual Meeting!

Ron Wheeler
Assistant Director for Faculty, Research, & Instructional Services
University of New Mexico School of Law

SC Annual Reception -

Please join us in St. Louis for our annual (and fabulous) conference reception, which is generously sponsored by LexisNexis, ThomsonWest, and Wolters Kluwer. This year's reception will be held in the historic Union Station Grand Hall, from 7-10pm on Tuesday, July 11. Guests are welcome. Please encourage anyone interested in the work of the Standing Committee to attend. There will be terrific hors d'oeuvres, desserts & cash bar.

St. Louis Union Station, once the largest and busiest passenger rail terminal in the world, is now one of America's great marketplaces. Union Station first opened in 1894, but ceased operation as an active train terminal in 1978. Union Station reopened in August of 1985 as the largest adaptive re-use project in the United States. Today, this 110 year old National Historic Landmark of unmatched beauty and elegance has been dramatically restored and redeveloped.

Address:
Hyatt Regency St. Louis
1820 Market Street
St. Louis, Missouri
(314) 231-1234

RSVPs are requested but not required. It would be helpful if you could notify us of your intention to attend the reception by contacting Stephanie Davidson, 2005-06 Chair of the Standing Committee, via email at stephnd@law.uiuc.edu. Prepayments would help us out even more. Attendees are strongly encouraged to send checks for $15, payable to AALL to the SR-SIS Treasurer:
Ron Wheeler, MCS11 6070, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001

Go to the SC website for more information -
http://www.aallnet.org/sis/srsis/lgbt/index.html

Bibliography on Sexual Orientation –
James Donovan and a large group of volunteers continue their work on updating the SR-SIS bibliography on Sexual Orientation and the Law. The bibliography has been accepted by AALL as a new title in their AALL/Hein Publication Series, and we expect it to be published sometime in 2007. The group is currently in the process of adding annotations for citations that will cover an additional year's worth of material, bringing the bibliography current through 2005.

We are a relatively small group of people, with lots of great ideas. If you are interested in working on any of the projects of this Standing Committee, please attend our Business Meeting at AALL in St. Louis (Monday, July 10th; 7:45 a.m.-8:45a.m.) or contact Rebecca Trammell, Chair (rtrammel@law.stetson.edu).

Some of the projects we are working on include:

• adding more libraries to the online Directory of Law Libraries Serving Prisoners (http://www.aallnet.org/sis/srsis/llsp/)
• updating the book cited in several court cases challenging the lack of prisoner access to legal materials, "Recommended Collections for Prison and Other Institution Law Libraries" (1996 ed.).

LISP/RIPS/SR-SIS Joint Roundtable on Library Services to Pro Se Patrons and Prisoners

Monday, July 10, 2006
10:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Moderator: Amy Hale-Janeke

In this do-it-yourself age, many people are deciding to handle their own legal problems. In the pro se world, law librarians are seen as the "go to" people. How can you effectively deal with pro ses' expectations? How much help is appropriate? How much is too much? What role do law librarians play in the do-it-yourself world? We will also discuss pro bono opportunities for pro se patrons as well as present an overview of one state law library's prison program. Come to this roundtable and share your best strategies and worst reference horror stories. We'll talk about what works, what doesn't, and why. If you'd like to submit questions, strategies, or stories ahead of time, please send them to ahjaneke@ca5.uscourts.gov.

Additionally, Barbara Golden, the Minnesota State Law Librarian, will discuss the unique "Law Library Service to Prisoners" (LLSP) program at the MN State Law Library, which celebrated it's 20th anniversary in 2004. LLSP librarians visit inmates in each of the eight primary adult correctional facilities at least once per month and maintain a core legal collection in the prison libraries. In 2004 they made 120 prison visits and served 1776 inmates.